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Waterman lever box


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#1 FredM

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Posted 11 May 2015 - 11:27 AM

Is there a way to look at a Waterman lever box without the original barrel and determine if it came from a 52 or from a 1/2 size barrel?

#2 memopens

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Posted 11 May 2015 - 07:41 PM

They are the same :)



#3 D Armstrong

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Posted 12 May 2015 - 01:53 AM

You can do it with a ruler; the important piece of information is the measurement from the pivot pin to the end of the slot (the length of the lever that extends down into the barrel). For a "52½"-sized barrel it should measure 5 mm; for a full-sized "52" it will be 7 mm. For barrels with a greater diameter, it will be longer still (don't have one on hand to measure, sorry).

 

In the photo below, the upper box is from a "52", and the lower a "52½". The "5" on the ruler is aligned with the pivot of both levers.

 

lever_boxes.jpg

 

If you put a lever which is too small in a pen it will not depress enough to fully deflate the sac (resulting in an incomplete fill). If it is too large for the barrel diameter, it will bottom out too soon, and put stress on the box itself, usually resulting in a break at the pivot hole before too long.

 

Playing with Waterman lever boxes is a twitchy business, and expensive, even for pros. They are getting extremely hard to come by. But I wish you the best!


David Armstrong
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#4 FredM

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Posted 12 May 2015 - 10:49 AM

Thanks for the info, that's exactly what I needed to know. I've removed and replaced a few and feel comfortable with that but I'm not too sure about modifying a box to fit a different diameter barrel. I want to be sure I have the right one and put it in just once.

#5 Cob

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Posted 12 May 2015 - 04:50 PM

Yes I have looked at this; I have an example of a 52 lever box and one from a 32½; they are identical except for the position of the hole for the pivot pin thus adjusting the throw.

 

I am still looking for a section for the 32½ by the way!

 

Cob






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